måndag 8 juli 2013

Övergångstider

WORD FOR THE WEEK

"…
the mark of the new order is not membership of a particular group or
movement. It is whether we have yielded to the processes of God in the
perplexity of prophetic delay and learned the lessons of the cave (see
the full article for an explanation of these terms).

We stand at a
transitional point in history – the overlap between an old order and
the new. There is right now a new move of God being prepared in the
wings. But before it breaks forth, we are being faced with a time of
prophetic delay, and therefore with decisions – will we find refuge and
dream fulfilment through human ability, 'head and shoulders' government,
or in the Lord? Will we cast ourselves in brokenness on him or merely
resolve to overcome in our own strength depending on our skill,
training, and programs - on human strategy and planning? The purpose of
prophetic delay, of transitional times is probationary - we are being
weighed in the balance - but will it fall to the old order of human
control or to the new order of humility and brokenness.

We are
talking here about an inner quality of the spirit that is supernatural.
It cannot be faked – it is more than cultural graciousness and good
manners. It is something deep in the human spirit that only God himself
can create. It comes in the extremity of our circumstances – when we are
either crushed by the weight of God's awesome presence or overwhelmed
without emotional, physical, or financial strength – when in utter
weakness we call on the Lord.

Therefore, let us cry with David, 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me'; for 'the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…' (Psa 51:10, 17).

And in this moment of prophetic delay let us also be confident that the One who lives in a high and holy place lives also with 'he who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite' (Isa 57:15)."